I've got five R7's and HW30's, and am relatively new to them, buying my first one only a couple of years ago. My first HW30 was an Ebay item I stole for about $250. It was an early San Rafael Beeman made in 1977 with the European style stock(finger grooves, smaller dimension, no safety and no butt plate). I put a Beeman aperture sight with the optional Merit sight disc with the prescription lens holder on it, and am very happy about the whole situation. I fell in love right away and quickly realized what I had been missing out on by not having any "intermediate" springers. I've been into springers since the late 1980's but only had "magnums" - an R1 in .22, a Kodiak in .25, an HW77 Tyrolean(custom) and HW77K(both Mark I) in .177, all of which I hunted small game. I also bought a new HW50 for Iguana hunting in South Florida. I really enjoyed the easy cocking on my older HW30, and especially the "NO SAFETY" which multiplied the pleasure of shooting it. I started buying intermediates with another no safety HW30, two Beeman R7's in .20 cal, and a new R7 in .177, just to see what changes were made in the new R7's. I do like the older ones much better because of the no safety feature. I went on to get a FWB 150 Tyrolean, FWB 300 Tyrolean, FWB 124 San Anselmo made in 1973, two Beeman P-1 San Rafael pistols - one with with the optional fancy walnut rifle stock, and last but not least, and probably my favorite air rifle, a Walther LG55 Tyrolean with double set triggers made in 1962. I occasionally shoot my magnums, but usually grab an R7 to plink around the property. For coons I'll grab a magnum, usually the HW77 or the Kodiak. The best pellet I use on all my guns for plinking or hunting is the H&N Field Target Trophy, and for formal target shooting the H&N Finale Match Light or the H&N Match Rifle. Sorry for the terrible pictures.
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